connecting GPS to VHF radio

[scottnjay]

I am trying to get my boat ready to go out in the ocean (only on really good days) and I am installing a VHF radio and want to get a handheld GPS. The VHF radio says to solder the attachment to the GPS NMEA cable. Sounds easy enough but what is the NMEA cable? Looking online I haven't found a handheld gps that says it has a NMEA cable. Am I missing something? Has anyone done this. I don't have the GPS yet, still trying to figure out which one will work.

 

[xtraham]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

To connect the navigation receiver to the VHF radio turn off both radios. Check the interconnection instructions in the GPS and VHF owner’s manuals. Match the wire colors as shown in the diagrams. Make the initial connections by twisting the bared ends of the wires together. (There is no risk of electrical shock, the signal voltage will be less than that from your boat’s battery.) Turn the GPS and the VHF on and when the GPS shows position information look for the same data on the radio’s display. If no data appears try reversing the wire connections. A reversed connection won’t harm either the GPS or the radio. Once you have verified that the connection to the radio is correct, Once everything is working properly use solder and shrink rap or marine grade crimp connectors to make the wire connections permanent. Check both the VHF radio and the gps for the presence of correct position information every time you use your boat. The life you save may be your own!

 

[scottnjay]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

Thanks for the info. I guess my question is more does a handheld gps come with a data cord to solder into or do I have to look for something specific. What I have found is the have a serial cable for a pc link up. Am I missing something?

 

[xtraham]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

I have 2 hand held's 1 game with the external power/data cable and the other was an accessory that had to be ordered, if you have not purchased one search all brands and read the manuals most are downloadable.. chose the one that best suits your needs

hope this helps

Tom

 

[Boatist]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

I wish I could help but it is not that simple anymore. Today almost every manufacture has their own network. The old standard nmea 0183 will not work with Lowrance NMEA 2000. I think Garmin is useing another standard that is not compatable with either the old NMEA 0183 or Lowrance NMEA 2000. Everyone seems to be going to their own standard to force you to buy everything from them. Lowrance GPS, Fish Finder, Radio, Radar, Temp sensor, Fuel Flow Sensor, ect.

If you already have the radio then check your book very closely and note which standard it will work with, Or call them and ask what brand or type GPS will work with the Radio.

I feel this is a big step Backwords and one that will cause the DSC red button not to work. I feel this is one area that need to be a standard or require all GPS and Radios to connect to all type networks.

Good Luck and if you find any good information please share. This is also an area I am trying to find information on right now.

 

[scottnjay]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

Well, I did some more research. Here is what Cobra sent me (I have the MRF55)
http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=corporate/faqdetail&id=1&faq_id=304
(I hope it is ok I put that here). I was looking at the Magellan and their tech support said they only have USB output and it likely wouldn't work. Does anyone have a brand of handheld they have used that works well.

 

[Boatist]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

Looks like the new Lowrance units do have NMEA 0183 as well a NMEA 2000.

My Garmin Handheld GPSMAP 76 has a NMEA 0183 output and input. It does not come with the cable but you can buy one in most stores that sell the unit.

NMEA is a National Marine Electronic Association. They created a stardard to allow radio's, Gps system, radar , ect to talk to each other. So You would need the cable to go from the transmit on the Gps to the receive on the on the radio. This would tell the Radio what your GPS Postion is so it could sent it to the Coast Guard and other boats if your were in trouble..

 

[tommays]

Re: connecting GPS to VHF radio

You got me curious

So I went to Lowrance and read the instructions all there hand held units down to the 99 dollar iFinder have a com port with and optional serial cable

It’s a 9 pin to plug into a laptop but you should just be able to cut the cable and connect it to your radio

I would call OR e-mail tech support first but the manual does say it will work

If you want a different brand you’re going to need to go to there web sight and download the instructions to see if they have this feature

I would guess other brands have this also But I have never seen a handheld hooked up to a radio only laptops so they seem to not mention it as a selling point 


Tommays